The Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) has signed six concessional development loan agreements with the Syrian Arab Republic worth more than USD 403 million, according to a statement from SFD.
The agreements were signed in Riyadh on 5 November 2026, the release said, under directives attributed to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
The signing ceremony was attended by the Crown Prince and Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, SFD said. SFD Chief Executive Officer Sultan bin Abdulrahman Al-Marshad and Syrian Minister of Finance Mohammed Yusr Barniyeh signed the agreements on behalf of their respective institutions.
Funding aimed at infrastructure, services and resilience
In the release, SFD said the financing spans six development areas, focusing on rehabilitating infrastructure and restoring public services for communities affected by years of conflict.
Among the projects outlined in the statement:
- USD 90 million to rehabilitate generating units at the Aleppo Thermal Power Plant, described as supporting restoration of reliable electricity supplies for approximately 5 million people and enabling economic activity.
- USD 30 million for a water project to install 300,000 smart meters, aimed at improving water service efficiency for approximately 1.5 million people.
- USD 105 million to construct, rehabilitate and equip 25 civil defence centres, intended to strengthen emergency response and disaster management capabilities for more than 7 million people.
- USD 60 million to support rehabilitation of up to 10,000 damaged homes.
- USD 100 million to rehabilitate, construct and equip hospitals and health centres, to restore essential healthcare services and expand access to care.
- USD 18 million to support digital transformation and institutional development at Syria’s Ministry of Finance, described as enhancing efficiency and transparency in government financial services.
Reference to earlier assistance
SFD also stated that the loans build on Saudi assistance to Syria, including two grants provided through SFD in September 2025 to supply crude oil and cover part of public employees’ salaries over three months.
The release framed the new agreements as part of Saudi Arabia’s ongoing support for Syria’s development priorities, including the rehabilitation of essential services and community resilience.
